By: Hafizur Rahman, Camp Correspondent
Cox’s Bazar, Bangladesh – February 21, 2025
An event titled “Rohingya Mother Language Day” was organized by Rohingya Islamic Scholars on International Mother Language Day to emphasize the importance of preserving the Rohingya language. The event, held in Camp-9 near Boli Bazer Market, brought together teachers, students, Hifdh students, and respected elderly figures.
The organizer, Hafiz Zafor Mia, Principal of Rohingyar Ashar School, led the event, which was supported by the Rohingya National Education Board. Members of the board delivered speeches highlighting the significance of mother languages. The event began with the recitation of the Surah, followed by a Tarana emphasizing the vital role language plays in identity and heritage.
Mufti Jubair, one of the speakers, pointed out that for years, the lack of a standardized writing system had threatened the survival of the Rohingya language. However, recent advancements in digital accessibility have provided an opportunity to document Rohingya culture, history, and daily communication.
Despite this progress, integrating Rohingya into education and official use remains a challenge. Community leaders continue to call for further efforts to promote literacy and preserve their linguistic heritage.
After years of marginalization, the Rohingya language has been officially recognized in Unicode, allowing it to be digitally recorded and safeguarded. This recognition marks a significant step in ensuring the stateless Rohingya community can protect its linguistic identity.
However, challenges persist in promoting literacy and encouraging young Rohingya to embrace their language. Without structured education and official recognition, even digital documentation may not be sufficient to sustain the language for future generations.
The Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh face a silent yet profound crisis—the gradual erosion of their mother tongue. Limited access to formal education in Rohingya and increasing exposure to Bangla and English have resulted in younger generations struggling to retain their language.
As Rohingya remains primarily an oral language, its survival depends on storytelling, daily conversations, and cultural traditions. However, displacement, restrictions on education, and lack of official recognition continue to threaten its existence. Many young Rohingya in the refugee camps now speak a mix of languages, often unable to express themselves fluently in their native tongue.
Community leaders and activists warn that if this trend continues, the Rohingya people risk losing a core part of their identity. “Language is our identity. If we lose it, we lose a part of ourselves,” stated a Rohingya youth activist.
Efforts to document and teach the Rohingya language are ongoing. Local initiatives, including informal language classes and digital preservation projects, seek to keep the language alive. However, without official recognition and structured education in Rohingya, the challenge remains immense.
On International Mother Language Day, Rohingya refugees call for greater efforts to preserve their linguistic heritage. They urge humanitarian organizations, educators, and policymakers to support initiatives aimed at promoting and sustaining the Rohingya language before it is lost to history.
For the Rohingya, protecting their mother language is about more than just communication—it is about safeguarding their culture, history, and identity in an uncertain future.
